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Guna is a 45-year-old Indonesian. He was diagnosed with colon cancer and had an operation. Guna then came to CA Care but decided to undergo chemotherapy instead. He received 8 cycles of chemotherapy. Each cycle cost about RM5,000. Every six-monthly follow-up examination showed he was well.

However, in March 2017, i.e. about two and half years later, a CT scan showed the following:

An 8 mm nodule in left lumbar region, marginally increased in size. This could represent mesenteric lymph node.

There is a 2.2 x 2.1 cm hypodense lesion in the left lower lumbar region, increased in size. Tumour deposit is considered.

There is a 8 mm nodule in the left upper lobe of lung. This is suspicious of tumor or metastasis.

Prostate is enlarged, measuring 3.4 x 6.8 x 4.6 cm.

The oncologist suggested that Guna do a PET scan to assess if there is any further spread of the cancer. If the metastasis is not extensive, Guna needs another surgery. If the metastasis is extensive, Guna has to undergo chemotherapy again.

Not knowing what to do, Guna went back to consult the surgeon who operated on him. He was given the same advice — go for a PET scan. A PET scan would cost RM4,000 plus.

Confused and not knowing what to do, Guna’s wife consulted the medium of two Buddhist temples in Medan. She was told “not to undergo further medical treatment and should see Dr. Chris instead.”

So, it was. A sad morning indeed. How did I handle such a case? Listen carefully to the video below.

Gist of our conversation

Guna: The oncologist asked me to go for a PET scan. If the result shows no extensive spread, then I need an operation. If the cancer has spread extensively, then no operation. Just chemotherapy.

Chris: PET scan can show if there are any more cancer somewhere else. But after knowing this, what do you want to do? I don’t know what to say. I agree, you can go ahead and do the PET scan if you like. This is to know exactly what is going on in your body. Correct logic – go ahead.

But after spending RM4000 plus for the PET scan what benefit do you hope to get? What if after the scan shows there are many more tumours. What do you want to do? Or what can you do?

The doctors say, go for another operation. Do you want that? You have to decide for yourself.

Or you have to go for more chemo. Do you want that?

Wife: My idea is this. We do not go for all these. Just take your herbs. May be that will help (cure?).

C: I don’t have any magic herbs to do that. You have already done 8 cycles of chemo and paid RM40K for that treatment. It did not cure you. It is not right for me to tell you that my herbs will make the tumours go away. How can? No, just not right and not honest! I am not god.

If you were to come and see me earlier — immediately after your operation — and you started to take the herbs, maybe the story would be different. But you did not believe me then.

Now the cancer had metastatised and you expect my herbs to cure you. No way. But I am not blaming you. Cases like yours are very common! Operate, chemo and the cancer recurred. That is nothing unusual.

At CA Care, I want to be honest with my patients. I don’t want to mislead you. From my experience, I know that there is NO cure for cancer. Now, you have experienced this yourself. You have undergone the operation, had chemotherapy and spent so much money — did these treatments cure you? No, right? Now, you understand what I mean.

Most patients came here after their medical treatments have failed them. Then, they expect me to cure them! What can I do?

So, what do you want me to do for you?

As far as the oncologist is concerned there is a CT scan in the hospital. Okay use it. You pay RM4000 plus for that. I cannot dispute that suggestion. I also want to know what is going on in you. The scan can tell you that.

But think for yourself first, what do you want to do after the PET scan? Operation? Chemo again?

So, to ask you to go for the scan is not right. Not to ask you to go for the scan is also not right. My main concern is not to spend too much money to do something which may not benefit you.

So, what do you want to do now?

G: I really don’t know what to do now.

C: I too don’t know what to do. But I know the doctor knows what to do. He will ask you to go for more chemo.

Ask if Chemo Can Cure You

The last time you had your chemotherapy (two and a half years ago), did you ask the doctor if the treatment was going to cure you? Did you ask?

G: I did. The doctor said if no chemo, the chances of recurrence is higher. With chemo, the chances of recurrence is lower.

C: Chemo is said to reduce the chances of recurrence only? Reduction of a recurrence is not necessarily a cure. Right?

G: Yes.

C: Of course no one is going to say things honestly. Actually reducing the chances of recurrence also implies there is “no cure.” No guarantee that the cancer goes away.

Did the oncologist tell you about the percentage benefits you would get from chemo?

G: If no chemo, the chances of recurrence is 50:50. If chemo the chances of recurrence is 40:60, meaning 60 percent no recurrence.

C: This seems to say that the benefit of chemotherapy is only 10 percent. Chances of recurrence reduced from 50 percent to 40 percent. Right?

It also means that even with chemo there is still a 40 percent chance that the cancer can recur and the treatment will fail. Is that not what it means?

But cancer patients like you want a 100 percent chance of no recurrence, 100 percent of cure. Right?

Now you understand what I mean when I told you that there is no cure for cancer.

So, what can I do for you now?

Most patients who come to see me are asking for a cure. They expect the cancer to just disappear. Correct? It is not fair. You have undergone the surgery and had chemo and these did not cure you. Now, you expect the herbs cure you?

G: I am just a layman. I just did everything that the doctor wanted me to do.

C: I understand. Now, tell me what can I do for you? I am not god. I also feel very sad to hear your story. It breaks my heart.

G: I am confused.

C: I understand. I am also confused.

Comments

I am aware that some of you reading this would not like what I said. Surely you are entitled to your opinion. Most patients come wanting to hear what they want to hear only — they want to hear me saying that I can cure them.

If you belong to this group of patients, let me tell you. I know of some herbalists who can guarantee that their herbs can cure your cancer! You want to go there? Come and see me personally and I can show you the way to them if you like!

Take it from me, facing patients like this one is heart breaking. If I could have my way, I would want to send them away “empty-handed.” Go home and think first what you want to do. Or I would say, go to someone else who can help you. This is to say, I am being polite and indirectly telling you not to come and see me.

But for Guna and his wife this morning, it did not turn out that way. Both the patient and his wife went away rather satisfied. Part 2 of this story tells you why!

This is a normal scenario I often encounter. A patient is diagnosed with cancer. He undergoes surgery immediately, followed by chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. After completing these treatments, the patient is told to come back for routine check-up. What has to be done, has been done. Probably he thinks, he is cured! But if he knows enough about cancer, deep within, is this scary concern — Can the cancer come back again? Yes, the chances are very high that it would come back.

So, what can you do about it? Nothing much! Wait and see — that probably is the advice given.

The patient goes back for routine check-up once every few months. During this consultation, the doctor may ask a few questions, press here and press there, do a blood test, X-ray, scan, etc. In reality, all these procedures would not help stop the cancer from coming back. On the contrary, it is during one of these procedures that patients could be told that the day of reckoning has arrived! There — another lump! Then more treatments are suggested.

Ask your oncologist what can you do, as a patient, to help yourself so that the chances of recurrence would be minimized? He would probably say, Okay, swallow this pill for prevention or may not be able to give any answer.

Let me share with you this classic example that I often encounter.

HT is a 61-year-old male. His problem started with having blood in his stools. He went to Dr. A in G hospital, and did a colonoscopy. The doctor found many polyps and signs of gastritis. There is a tumour in his transverse colon.

A CT scan done two days later showed two small pulmonary nodules – one in the middle lobe and the other in the left lower lobe, raising the possibility of pulmonary metastasis. There are hypodense lesions in the left adrenal gland which could be metastases.

HT was scheduled to undergo an operation by Dr. A but made a last-minute change to let Dr. B do the surgery instead. The surgeon removed most of the polyps beside performing a hemicolectomy, removing 58.5 cm long segment of this transverse colon.

HT then underwent 12 cycles of chemotherapy. The treatment was completed by end of August 2016.

What’s next after chemo? Nothing. But is he cured? Your guess is as good as mine. HT went home to wait — to carry on with his own life! Do what you are doing, eat whatever food you want to eat! But come back for routine check up once every 2 or 3 months.

Dr. Barry Boyd, an oncologist, wrote this:

HT is a typical example of what Dr. Barry Boyd meant — and mind you, what he wrote is what most cancer patients experience most of the time, not only in America but also here. To me, this is one of the main drawback of medical treatment for cancer! Doctor only treats you! But treating does not mean cure. After the completion of the treatment patients are left “in a free fall. This is what I call falling off the cliff.”

HT tolerated the chemo rather well. He only suffered blackening and numbness of the fingers and toes. For that the doctor prescribed Neurobion. He also lost his appetite. His body itched and was given Claritin.

As the chemo treatment progressed, his liver function test values deteriorated. See the 2 tables below. At two months after completion of the chemo, these values deteriorated further which made HT rather worried. The oncologist prescribed milk thistle but HT was not satisfied and wanted more help. He came to see us.

During his first visit to us, I told HT to go home and think seriously what he wanted to do. Since he has been under the care of an oncologist, there is no reason why he needs our help. Let the doctor repair the so called “damage” because if anything goes wrong later, then someone is going to make us the scapegoat! Remember, this is a Stage 3B cancer. It has spread to the lymph nodes and possible metastasis to the lungs and adrenal gland. The chances of recurrence is very high. And most of the time, if this unfortunate event occurs, people will point their fingers at us — It is because of your herbs! So this is what I told HT. Go home and think about what I have said. I cannot cure your cancer. You can come back again, if you think I can help you.

The next day, HT came back and wanted us to help him — after all, is he not about to fall off the cliff? He has seen his oncologist and was told his liver functions are not good! And he was prescribed milk thistle!

Below is HT’s blood test results over the months.

Table 1: Blood test results up to the 6th chemo.

In January to February, HT had his operation and did not receive any chemo yet. His blood results were good. His blood test results were still okay after 2 shots of chemo. The third shot of chemo lowered his red blood count (RBC) and platelets. This is to be expected — the norm! If the RBC and platelets become too low, the doctor will give you the “red juice” or the “white juice” injection to boost this up again.

Alanine transaminase (ALT). Large amounts of ALT occur in liver cells. When your liver is injured or inflamed (as in hepatitis), the blood level of ALT usually rises.

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST). When a blood test detects high levels of this enzyme in your blood it usually means your liver is injured in some way. AST can also be released if heart or skeletal muscle is damaged.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The blood level is raised in some types of liver and bone disease.

Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT). This may be elevated with even minor, subclinical levels of liver dysfunction. It is also raised in chronic alcohol toxicity.

After the third chemo, AST level started to become abnormal and this continued to be elevated throughout and even after the treatment period.

Table 2: Blood test results from the 7th to 12th chemo and 2 months after completion of chemo.

As chemotherapy progressed, HT’s RBC, platelets, alkaline phosphatase, ALT, AST (and later GGT) were adversely affected. We know that the use of chemo-drugs often results in elevated liver function enzymes, which may represent liver toxicity or damage.

In fact, even two months after completion of chemotherapy, HT’s liver function enzymes were elevated. HT started with a good liver, and now has it been damaged by the chemotherapy? Only time can tell what is going to happen next.

Since, HT is worried about this problem, we try to help him by prescribing some liver herbs. Of course, certain people would say, taking herbs would cause more damage to the liver! But, let me tell you, our experience shows otherwise — herbs can repair that damage! Again, only time can tell who is right.

Besides learning the chemo can cause liver toxicity or damage, there are two more lessons we can learn from HT’s experience.

Lesson 1: HT said, initially he was supposed to be operated on by Dr. A but at the last minute he requested to have Dr. B do the operation instead. Why? He did a bit of “homework” and felt that Dr. B is more competent. Bravo! Patients, you must learn to be empowered! Don’t just be led by the nose “to be slaughtered.”

I understand, most cancer patients don’t like to read books or to put it mildly, don’t have time to read books. Let me share with you what I read. Dr. Paul Ruggieri wrote Confessions of a Surgeon, which can give you an insight of what can happen in the operating theatre. He said:

The “white coat code of silence” is a term I used to describe the dark side of a profession that, despite its noble intentions, enables incompetent surgeons to continue to work.

The operating rooms are even more insular; there, secrets are often not openly discussed; rarely going beyond the double doors.

The sad thing was … patients had no idea who they were getting as a surgeon. How does anyone who is about to have surgery truly know how competent the surgeon is? How can the public know?

Yes, doctors (especially surgeons, because of what they do) are human, and capable of making mistakes. When mistakes are made, people get hurt or die.

There is no website, no ability to research important, relevant data on your surgeon’s track record before your operation … all we know … he or she has a “good” reputation. Is this enough?

Hospitals have relevant information … Operating room nurses quickly figure out which surgeons know what they’re doing and which ones should be looking for another profession.

I believe every person who is about to undergo surgery should have the opportunity to access unbiased performance information about his or her surgeon.

Unfortunately, this ideal is yet to be recongised, let alone practised in hospitals. So, patients, the only way out is for you to use your intuition! If you “feel inside you” that a doctor is not good for you, go find another one!

Lesson 2: I asked HT, How much did he spend for all these treatments — surgery and chemotherapy? He did not know! Because the health insurance paid for everything.

Then HT added, Actually I learned from the Accounts Department that the costs of my treatment were inflatedbecause I have insurance!

Yes, it is common knowledge (not a secret anymore) that if you are insured and landed in the hospital, the treatment charges will automatically sky rocket! While it sounds okay for now, but at the end of it, it is the patients who would suffer from such practice. Your health insurance premium will go up! This unfortunately is one sickness of the health industry which we all know exists but cannot do anything about it!

WL is 35 year old Malaysia male. On 25 September 2015, he sent us an e-mail as below:

Hi Dr Chris,
My name is WL. I have worked in Penang for the past 12 years. Recently I have took up a job in China and I have been there for about a month. Last week I went back to Malaysia and I went to see doctor in Ipoh because I found blood in my stool. Also it’s not easy for me to pass motion.

Initially, I thought it could be my piles which I’m having for more than 10 years back. During that time the doc asked me to leave it since it was not serious. When I got back to see the same doctor last week, he felt something was not right. He asked me to do an endoscopy.

I am going back to Penang next Wednesday (9/28) to get more opinions from different doctors. I’m thinking if I can meet you, I can find more from you about the alternative way of using herbs. Can I know if you will be available next week or the following week? If yes, should i come to see you after or before the tumor surgery? Kindly advice. Thanks.

Reply: Go and get the cancer removed. Either do it in KL or Penang. There are many doctors who can cut you up but be careful where you go to.

Hi Dr Chris,
Thanks for the reply. Attached files of medical report. I understand your point. Do you have any recommendations for a doctor in Penang? It will be easier for me and my family because my wife is just 4 months pregnant.CT scan, 19 September 2016: Slight irregular and eccentric wall thickening at lower rectum n keeping with lower rectal tumour/lesion as noted clinically.

The main concern is whether WL has to use a colostomy bag after that, because this a rectal cancer. According to WL the doctor he consulted said that might be the case. It would indeed be a great disadvantage if WL, being a 35-year-old, has to deal with such a bag throughout his life. Stressful and messy indeed. The idea is try to avoid having to use a colostomy bag if possible.

I suggested that WL take time to “shop” around for a better surgeon. One surgeon I had in mind was in Kuala Lumpur. It would be worth that extra effort for WL to consult him and let him do the operation if there is not necessary to use a colostomy bag after that.

I also informed WL that there is a surgeon in Singapore (in private practice) who would be able to construct an “artificial rectum” should there is a need for one. In this way, WL would not have to use a colostomy bag. It would be worth spending some money to go to Singapore to consult him. But perhaps, before seeing someone in private practice, it would be a good idea to start seeing someone in Singapore General Hospital and take it from there.

About three weeks later, WL came back to see us again. He had his rectal tumour removed by the surgeon in Kuala Lumpur, as suggested. The total cost of the treatment was RM 40,000. WL was hospitalised for a week. After the surgery, WL had to use a temporary colostomy bag for a few weeks. After that he needs another surgery to rejoin the rectum.

Before the surgery, as suggested, WL went to Singapore General Hospital for consultation. The total cost of the surgery would be SGD 50,000 — almost four times more expensive than the cost in KL hospital.

Chemotherapy

An oncologist came to visit WL while he was still in the ward. According to the oncologist WL needs to undergo chemotherapy, using Xelox regimen (Xeloda + Oxaliplatin). WL needs 8 cycles and each cycle would cost about RM 4,000. Chemotherapy would start 2 to 6 weeks from the operation date.

The oncologist told WL the following:

You are still young.

Your situation is very critical.

If you don’t do chemo, you will lose the battle.

Within two years the cancer will spread all over.

If you don’t do chemo, you have a 65 percent chance of recurrence, i.e. the cancer would come back.

If you do chemo, you have a 65 chance that the cancer will not come back.

You can eat anything you like. According to the oncologist he has not come across any research report that links diet to cancer.

While warded in the hospital, WL had diarrhoea. The oncologist suggested that WL take fried food to stop the diarrhoae!

Chris: Do you believe what the oncologist told you about the diet — that your husband can eat anything he likes?

Wife: No, I never believe him.

There are three lessons we can learn from this case.

One, chose you surgeon wisely. If you go to the “wrong” surgeon, you may end up having to wear the colostomy bag the rest of your life!

Of course, it is logical to expect that it is more expensive to undergo medical treatment in Singapore than in Kuala Lumpur or Penang. No one to blame here — it is the exchange rate! It cost almost the same on a dollar-to-dollar basis.

Two, when told to do chemo, always ask if this treatment is going to cure you? What is your chance of obtaining a hundred percent cure — after all this is what you want anyway. When you get the answer from your oncologist, evaluate his answer critically.

WL was told: If you don’t do chemo, you have a 65 percent chance of recurrence, i.e. the cancer would come back. What does this mean? In simple language, it means that even without chemo there is a 35 chance that you will survive! Not ALL those who do not do chemo ended up dead. Right?

WL was told: If you do chemo, you have a 65 chance that the cancer does not come back. It means that even if you undergo chemo as suggested, there is 35 percent chance that the cancer can come back — meaning chemo does not guarantee you a cure! Right?

Therefore, it is up to YOU — the patient — to decide which path to take! Make your own decision because no one can help you in this dilemma.

Third, even WL’s wife — an ordinary housewife, could see the fallacy of the oncologist’s advice about diet. But if you need to read to believe, there are hundreds and hundreds of books written about diet and cancer. In my library at home I have no less than a hundred books on food and cancer! For those who prefer not to buy books, then go to the internet for free information. Click this link: http://www.wcrf.org/,http://www.aicr.org/cancer-research/. In 1982, American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) was founded to advance the simple but then-radical idea that cancer could be prevented. AICR focused on the link between diet and cancer, and immediately began supporting cutting-edge research in this area and educating the public about the results. It has published three global expert reports:

Food, Nutrition and the Prevention of Cancer: a global perspective, published in 1997

For those caregivers, be forewarned though, that teaching patients to become healthy makes no money! Asking them to change to good diet and lifestyle means you cannot prescribe any more drugs or herbs for their ailments. And when patients become healthy they don’t need to come back and see you again! So, from all angles, it appears that suppressing the truth and letting the status quo prevails is better?

For busy people out there, let me help you a bit on this connection between diet and cancer. Read what these outstanding doctors said:

Ho, ho, I believe we all want to be just as smart (or even smarter) than a pig, right?

AB is 77-year-old lady from Indonesia. In early 2015, she had pains on the left side of her abdomen. Then she developed constipation. She was brought to a private hospital in Johor. Colonoscopy indicated a 4 cm tumour in the sigmoid colon. A CT scan showed the following:

a diffuse circumferential thickenings of the sigmoid colon with narrow lumen.

AB was brought to the colorectal department of the university hospital in Singapore where she underwent a surgery on 5 May 2015.

The colon tumour and the uterus and its appendages were removed. Nine of the 27 lymph nodes were with metastatic carcinoma. This was considered a stage 3 cancer.

AB stayed in the hospital for 12 days and the cost of the treatment came to about SGD 28,000.

After the surgery, the doctor suggested a follow-up chemotherapy but AB and her family members refused the treatment. In March 2015, AB’s son came to seek our help.

AB had the following complaints:

Pain at the operation site — scale of 4 out of ten.

Unable to sleep well. Most of the time lying in bed day and night, feeling awake most of the time.

Not much energy.

Poor appetite. After the surgery, suffered intestinal paralysis and was unable to eat.

Bowel movements many times. Always feeling wanting to move bowels but only little came out — soft and watery stools.

Coughs with yellowish phlegm and itchy throat.

AB was started on the herbs for colon and lymph nodes. She also took herbs for appetite. AB’s conditions improved significantly. Her son said, “My mother is doing good!”

AB’s progress was regularly monitored by the following blood tests.

30 May 2015

8 Sept 2015

7 Dec 2015

1 March 2015

CEA

0.97

0.82

0.97

0.88

CA 19.9

6.76

10.50

6.49

9.52

CA 125

38.8 H

5.1

4.9

4.7

Alkaline phosphatase

91

57

69

68

GGT

48 H

19

22

20

SGOT

26

33 H

30 H

21

SGPT

21

39 H

46 H

33

Note: From September 2015, AB took additional herbs for her liver.

Lessons we can learn from this case.

After surgery, AB was asked to undergo chemotherapy. What would you do if this 77-year-old lady is your mother? What could have happened if AB were to go for chemotherapy?

Read what a colonel of the US Air Force and Sara Shane, a movie star wrote about chemotherapy ….

Herbalists are often called snake oil peddlers, quacks, etc., and herbs are condemned as “unscientific and unproven”. To AB’s son herbs did a lot of good to his mother! What do you want to believe — text-book knowledge or personal experience?

Often we are told that herbs can cause damage and are toxic to the liver, kidney, etc. This is often the mantra held by the noble profession that only prescribes chemical drugs. Have a close look at AB’s blood test results again. From the beginning after her surgery, certain liver enzyme were elevated — GGT = 48 in May, SGOT and SGPT were elevated in September 2015. What could be the reason? We know that colon cancer can spread to the liver rather soon. Could this be a beginning of liver spread? Or was this because AB took herbs?

Realizing that AB’s liver function was out of range, we prescribed herbs for her liver. Not long afterwards, her liver function enzymes were back to normal. If herbs damage the liver, taking more herbs means more damage done to the liver, right? You don’t need to go to a university to understand this logic. But in this case AB’s liver became better not worse.

In May 2015, before taking the herbs, AB’s CA 125 was at 38.8. After taking the herbs, her CA 125 dropped to around 4.7 and 5.1. One would expect that her CA 125 would have risen higher and higher if she was just taking useless “snake oil.” Is this not a simple logic too?

Many years ago this was what I wrote in our book, Cancer Yet They Live.

Related story:If this is a “happy” story, the next upcoming post is a sad one. A 34-year-old female with colon cancer had surgery and rounds after rounds of chemo. The treatments failed to cure her.

This is a happy story about a 82-year-old colon cancer patient. To us, he is known as Penang Hill Uncle (PHU). This is because his hobby is hill climbing and he has been doing this everyday for the past 30 years! Even today he still goes hill climbing, never mind that he has cancer!

PHU came to see us in October 2012 after undergoing surgery for his colon cancer. He refused chemotherapy. He said. “Chemo is difficult. I prefer to try my chances with your herbs.” After 3 years, we sat down with PHU to recall what he had gone through. And PHU said he was very happy to share his story with us.

November 2015:

Chris: Uncle, we are going to write your story. Is it okay with you? For the video, we will mask your face so that they don’t know your identity.

PHU: It is okay. No need to mask my face! I am not ashamed. I am not a thief. Let everyone know about this!

So here goes, PHU’s story.

Initial Problem and Hospital Experience

In July 2012, 79 year-old-PHU did a colonoscopy followed by a CT scan. The result showed the presence of a 3.1 x 3.0 x 3.3 cm fungating mass at the sigmoid colon, in keeping with a primary tumour. There was no evidence of distant metastasis although the cancer had spread to the surrounding nodes.

The only option for PHU was surgery. But before surgery, PHU was told that the procedure could be risky. He might suffer a heart attack, stroke or may even die. However, PHU had no choice but to go under the knife. He survived without any problem! The surgery was done in August 2012 and it only cost him RM 3,000 (in a government hospital).

Two days after surgery, one of his leg became numb and was unable to move! One doctor asked him to take Hacks. The problem was resolved. He was discharged from the hospital after a week.

PHU was asked to consider undergoing 8 cycles of chemotherapy. But the doctor did caution him about the risks involved.

PHU also was also told that the benefit of chemotherapy is only 10 percent. Without chemo, the chances of the cancer recurring and spreading is 50 percent. If PHU were to undergo chemotherapy, the chances of recurring and spreading is 40 percent.

Due to his old age and also him being without any symptom, PHU and family opted to “watch and see.” No chemotherapy! He said, ” I decided to take my chances with your herbs and therapy.” That was when PHU came to seek our help in early October 2012. He was started on the herbs for his colon and metastatic lymph nodes.

PHU went back to see his doctors at the general hospital for monitoring every few months. All was well. The doctors were also aware that PHU was on herbal therapy and they did object about this.

In September 2013, PHU had his heart checked. Look at what the doctor wrote below:

The AcuGraph readings over the years showed improved energy levels.

16 November 2012

14 November 2013

18 December 2015

(Note: AcuGraph 4 was donated by Dr. Adrian Larsen of Miridia Technology Inc., USA. Use of AcuGraph at CA Care is free of charge)

The following are his blood test results over the years.

Date

CEA

Remark

13 Aug 2012

10.1

Before surgery

18 March 2013

3.2

20 Nov. 2013

2.8

Started herbs & good diet, October 2013

20 Jan. 2014

4.5

Started to eat outside food

13 June 2014

2.1

4 Aug. 2014

5.4

26 Nov. 2014

5.6

18 May 2015

9.1

Sudden Rise of CEA to 9.1

After 3 years of “doing well” PHU told us that his CEA had started to increase from 2.1 to 9.1. PHU said in the first year after surgery he was very strict with his diet. So his CEA was well within normal limit, below 5.0. But as he got better and better, PHU started to eat “outside” food. It was then that his CEA started to climb out of normal range.

Such development is not surprising at all. It happened most of the time with most patients. This reflects human nature. Since he is already 80 plus, so be it! We hope that his problem will not go out of control!Each Day, I Never Think About My Cancer or that I Am Going to Die

Chris: Uncle, does this cancer bother you every day? Does it worry you? Do you ever think that it is going to die because of this cancer?

PHU: No, it does not worry me. People who does not have cancer also die. So why worry so much? Also people tell me that too much worry can kill you!

Hill Climbing – My only job!

Chris: What do you do every day? Hill climbing?

PHU: Yes, Monday to Friday I go out to climb the hills. I started off about 3 pm and come home at 5.30 pm. Every day I do that. I have been doing this for the past 30 years! It has become my job!

SY was 62-years-old when she was diagnosed with colon cancer. Her problem started with severe LIF (left iliac fossa) or left abdominal pain with difficulty in bowel movements and vomiting. There was blood in her stools. She struggled with her problem for about 3 months before going to see a doctor.

A colonoscopy done in August 2012 showed a sigmoid tumour with extensive colitis and ulceration extending from the tumour site to the ascending colon.

SY immediately had a surgery.

The histopathology report confirmed an infiltrating, ulcerating, moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. The surgical margins were not involved but 5 out of the 12 mesenteric lymph nodes contained metastatic tumour. The omentum was free of tumour. This was a Stage C1 or Stage 3 (T3N2Mo) cancer.

SY was asked to undergo follow-up chemotherapy. Her family refused chemotherapy. SY late husband had nose cancer and underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy. He suffered badly from the treatment. Not too long ago, a relative had cancer, underwent surgery and chemo and then died. So the children did not want SY to go through the same journey. SY’s children came to seek our help in September 2012.

The first week of taking our herbs, SY had diarrhoea 7 to 8 times a day. But this problem resolved by itself after a while. She complained of poor appetite. After taking Capsule E, this problem was resolved after a week. She gained 1 kg after this. Apart from this, SY did not have any more problems. We never get to meet with SY at all because the family did not want her to know that she had cancer.

SY’s progress was monitored through blood tests as follows:

Date

Platelets

CEA

CA 19.9

CA 125

ESR

Remark

27 August 2012

582 H

26 Sept 2012

346 H

On herbs 7 Sep 12

9 Oct 2012

n/a

4.0

n/a

n/a

n/a

13 April 2013

215

0.5

11.7

4.2

20

3 Jan 2014

276

5.0

11.2

5.5

15

23 Sept 2015

3.5

13 Nov 2015

9.5

Stress and bad food

For three years on CA Care Therapy, SY was doing fine. Her CEA was always within normal limit (below 5.0). Then in November 2015, SY’s children were alarmed as the CEA had increased to 9.5. They came to ask why for the past 3 years, SY was doing fine, and now the CEA was starting to increase? My answer to them is blunt and simple: What sin have you committed? Your mom must be eating all those bad food that we tell you not to eat!

At first, the children’s reaction was “to defend the indefensible.” No, she is on her proper diet! Really? No need to think too far behind. In September 2015 her CEA was at 3.5 and 2 months later it shot up to 9.5. What did you eat these past 2 months or what did you do wrong?

Slowly, we begun to unearth the answers of what went wrong!

SY started to eat things like tosai, huat koi, kaya pau, putu mayong, chee cheong fun, poh piah, biscut, etc. Her justification was why can’t she eat all these since she is healthy now? She did not get any cancer anyway! (Note: those of you who do not want to tell your dad or mom that he/she ever has cancer, please take note!).

From 2 October 2015, one of SY’s children opened a shop to start his business. SY was tasked with baby-sitting her grandchild. She was stressed out by this. She became bad tempered and she slept late, even as late as 1 a.m. and woke up as early as 5 a.m.

Our advice to SY’s children: Go home and have a family meeting.

Decide whether you all want your mother to live a longer life or you want to continue to make her a baby sitter and she will be dead soon after that.

Jaya is a 48-year-old Indonesian. He was hospitalised from 18 October 2014 until 3 November 2014. He underwent a laproscopic anterior resection on 22 October 2014 and implantation of venous cathther (installation of chemo-port) on 1 November 2014.

Histopathology confirmed that Jaya had an adenocarcimona – well differentiated, T3N8X. It was a stage 2 colon cancer.

After the surgery, Jaya had 2 cycles of chemotherapy with FLOFOX 6 regimens (Eloxatin (oxaliplatin) + Leucovarin + 5-FU). The first chemo was on 16 November 2014 and the second on 30 November 2014. Jaya was scheduled for 10 cycles of chemo every 2 weeks. The first chemo treatment cost IDR 45 million. Chemotherapy was done in a hospital in Jakarta.

Unfortunately after the second chemo, Jaya developed serious infection. He was rushed to Singapore and was hospitalised for 17 days for Staphylococcus aureus infection (because of chemo-port infection). While in the hospital he remained unconcious for 3 days. The doctor had asked the family members to “get ready.” Fortunately, Jaya recovered from this ordeal. The treatment is Singapore cost him SGD31,118.

After being discharged from the hospital, Jaya and his wife flew to Penang to seek our help. Jaya did not want to continue with his chemotherapy anymore although his wife insisted that he follows the doctor’s advice.

Paul is a 53-year-old from Indonesia. In 2012, he had diarrhoea. An endoscopy indicated rectal cancer. Paul immediately underwent an operation at Pondok Indah Hospital in Jakarta. Histopathology report confirmed a “well differentiated adenocarcinoma of the rectum, suspected that distal margin still contain tumour cells.” The doctor said it was a Stage 2 cancer.

As a follow-up treatment, Paul underwent 30 sessions of radiation at Gatot Subroto Hospital in Jakarta.

A CT scan after the radiation treatment showed rectosigmoid thickening “perhaps caused by inflammation after radiation, residual tumour still present.”

Paul consulted a doctor in Graha Kedoya Hospital and was prescribed an oral drug, Futraful. And a biopsy in March 2013 indicated residual adenocarcinoma.

In April 2013, Paul consulted a doctor in Medistra Hospital. A PET/CT scan was done at MRCCC Hospital. The result indicated “hypermetabolic lesion at anastomosis site suspect of residual malignancy.” There was no spread to the lymph nodes and other organs.

In June 2013, Paul went to Singapore for further consultation. He underwent an immediate surgery at Mt. Alvernia Hospital on 18 June 2013. A diverting ileostomy was created. The histopathology report confirmed a recurrent adenocarcinoma at the rectal stump.

Paul returned to Jakarta and was started on chemotherapy with Oxaliplatin + oral Xeloda. He received a total of 8 cycles of chemo at 3-weekly interval at Medistra Hospital. All treatments were completed in February 2014.

In March 2014, Paul started to use the electrical capacitive cancer treatment apparel (terapi rompi).

In April 2014, Paul was again on Xeloda.

PET / CT scan done at MRCCC Hospital in Jakarta indicated “suspected regional recurrence.” Paul went back to Singapore to consult his previous surgeon at Mt. Alvernia, He was asked to undergo 3 cycles of chemotherapy using Forfiri + Ebitux. The doctor said if the chemo could shrink the tumour, then Paul need not have to undergo any operation. If the treatment did not shrink the tumour the Paul ad to undergo another surgery again.

Paul refused further medical treatment. He returned to Jakarta and consulted a doctor who practised traditional medicine. He was started on herbs and followed a healthy food regimen. Paul also had liver detoxification.

In July 2014, Paul went back to Singapore again and this time consulted with a doctor in NUH. He was given the same advice as the doctor at Mt. Alvernia.

In August 2014, Paul came to seek out help and was started on herbs. He felt better after taking our herbs. His liver function results showed improvements.

4 Aug 2014

27 Oct 2014

15 Jan 2015

26 Jan 2015

ESR

30

45

30

Alk. phosphatase

165

139

98

AST

109

74

50

ALT

149

79

58

GGT

184

150

128

CEA

3.9

2.3

n/a

8.62

CA 19.9

17.6

25.3

n/a

CA 125

3.6

2.8

n/a

In late January 2015, we got this email from Paul.

Dear Dr. Chris,

Today I am very surprise that I got CEA test with 8,62. This is the highest value I have, and even higher than when the first time I got (2,35 before operation in 2012).

I still discipline to eat all capsules and herbal tea until now. I also still have vegetarian diet.

Just for your information, during end of last year I have vacation to Kuala Lumpur and I ate Chinese food but without meat. And last week, 24 Jan, I also ate Yamien noodle. Is that all the reason?

Dr. Chris, please help advise me what to do. From now I will strictly do my vegetarian diet. Do you think that my CEA may down again? Do I need more dosage capsule or herbal tea? Dr Chris, please advice, and thank for your help.

Reply: This man is from Jambi and you are from Jakarta …same problem la…..read this story carefully.

Again let me repeat what I told this patient that night was very clear, crude and blunt. When patients are “half dead,” they would follow our advice without protest. But when they get well, most of them will “misbehave.” That is normal. This advice also applies to all cancer patients.

To live or to die is your choice.

There is no need to be upset about the patient’s choice. If he wants to die, let him die.

My experiences have shown that if a patient eats anything he/she likes, this “good time” would probably last about 2 months. After that the cancer would recur and he/she cannot “enjoy” food anymore.

I also told AS, Perhaps it is time you stop taking the herbs. Go home and eat a lot of what you want to eat and “go” faster.

AS had lived for almost 2 years. He should be grateful that he is still alive – healthy and without pain. What more do you want? Be grateful for what you are now!

Dear Dr. Chris,
I still want to live, and my choice is back to your way of life. Hopefully it is not too late, and I believe I can do my diet strictly. Thanks for your advice.

Chris Wark is a American. He was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2003, at 26 years old. He had surgery, but refused chemotherapy. Instead we opted for nutrition and natural therapies to heal himself. By the grace of God, Chris is very much alive and kicking to-day, and is cancer-free!.

The great thing about Chris is that he is actively sharing his experience with everyone.

That’s the way — please share your experience so that others too may benefit from your healing!

LK is a 52-year-old male. His problem started in January 2014 when he had problems moving his bowels. Later, LK was told that he had cancerous tumour in his colon which blocked the passage of his stools.

LK underwent surgery. This cost him RM 19,000. After surgery he had six cycles of chemotherapy. Each treatment cost him RM 3,000 plus. LK and his family members, did not know what chemo-drugs were used. However, LK know that he was also on oral Xeloda.

Although LK was scheduled for eight cycles of chemotherapy, the oncologist stopped the treatment after the sixth cycle because the treatment was not effective. Then the oncologist offered LK two options:

Liver nodules are larger and more in number compared with previously. Three largest nodules are 2.7×2.5 cm and 2.7×2.4cm in the right lobe and 2.7×2.2cm in the left lobe.

Lung nodules are seen in both lung fields and the largest is 1×1 cm. The rest all tiny nodules.

Rectum and colon wall at the anastomotic site appear thickened.

Impression

Recurrent ca. colon.

Worsening liver metastasis.

Lung metastasis.

Comments

Based on the results above, the cancer had spread to the liver, lymph nodes and also the lung. This is a Stage 4 cancer that cannot be cured. But was the patient told about this?

The chemo treatment initially caused the CA 19.9 to decrease from 2101 to 740 and eventually to 660. As I have pointed out earlier this drop of the tumour marker is MEANINGLESS. In October, the CA 19.9 was 660 but with more chemotherapy the CA19.9 increased to 10,922 in December.

The blood test results also confirmed that with more chemotherapy the platelets dropped from 199 to 93. The liver function parameters – GGT, AST, ATL, deteriorated.

Eventually a CT scan in December 2014 confirmed that LK suffered recurrence of colon cancer. His liver metastasis worsened.

The game was up! The oncologist suggested “new bullets” probably more expensive as well. The patient declined and lost confidence in his doctor and came to seek our help.

I told the patient and his family, “I am not god and I cannot cure your cancer.” And I am telling this to all patients as well. There is no cure for cancer — you just move from treatment to treatment. And after spending you life’s saving you die.

PY is a 57-yer old male. He passed out blood in his stools. Unfortunately the doctor told PY there was nothing to worry about. “You look healthier than I am” the doctor assured PY. But it was not to be. A colonoscopy on 19 May 2014, indicated cancer of the rectum.

Initially the surgeon told PY that since it was a Stage 2 cancer follow up chemotherapy was optional. It was up to PY if he wanted to undergo the treatment or not. However, later the surgeon came to another conclusion – PY needed chemotherapy after all.

KL is a 60-year old female. She felt tired and was told that she was anemic. However, a colonoscopy done on 25 March 2014 indicated tumours in her ascending colon.

KL immediately underwent an operation. The operation cost RM 20,000. Unfortunately on the third day after the operation, KL suffered severe bleeding. The doctor told the family it was a Stage 4 cancer since it had spread to the liver.

About a month after the surgery, KL was started on chemotherapy. Each cycle of chemo cost about RM4,000. After receiving a total of 6 cycles (oxaliplatin + oral Xeloda) the oncologist stopped the treatment because it was not effective.

The oncologist offered KL two options:

Continue with more chemotherapy but using a combination of more expensive drugs – Avastin + Erbitux. This cost more than RM10,000 per cycle.

CA ascending colon with multiple lever metastases. The metastatic lesion in the left lobe of the liver is larger in size associated with progressive dilatation of the left intrahepatic bile duct.

A small stable nodule in the lower lobe of right lung.

Blood Test Results

Date

CEA

Alk. phosphotase

ALT

GGT

AST

27 Aug 2014

980.2

194

49

437

71

31 Oct 2014

1,914.0

141

21

214

39

Comments

KL and her family came to seek our help. She presented with loss of appetite and swelling of the abdomen and both legs. She lacked strength to walk or to stand up. The video below showed her condition that day.

This is what KL’s husband said: “What the doctor said caused us to panic. We followed what the doctor wanted us to do. Money spent but she (the patient) became weak.”

This is a tragic case. Many questions need to be asked:

Why was KL only told that the cancer had spread to her liver after her colon operation? Why not before the operation?

Would it not be prudent or even the norm of medical practice, to check if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body before any surgery is done?

If the cancer has spread extensively, it is sensible to go ahead with the surgery? Chemo?

Why was there severe bleeding 3 days after the surgery?

After 6 cycles of chemo, KL was told that the treatment did not work. With all the experiences (giving chemo to patients over the years), does the oncologist not realize that chemo rarely (if at all) works for patients?

TS (E211) is a 58-yer-old gentleman. On 28 January 2013 he went to see a doctor for abdominal pain, distention and bleeding. His CEA was normal, at 2.5 but his liver enzymes were elevated: AST = 45, ALT = 29 (normal), Alkaline phosphatase = 137 and GGT = 79. His white blood cell count was at 12.9 (high).

A CT scan indicated an irregular mass at the rectosigmoid region measuring about 6.1 cm in length. It caused narrowing of its lumen. “Features are suggestive with carcinoma rectum with local infiltration and liver metastases.”

TS underwent surgery on 31 January 2013. Due to the cancer infiltrating the small bowel with perforation and intra-loop abscess, TS was fitted with an temporary ileostomy bag.

TS was referred to an oncologist and was prescribed oral drug, Xeloda plus Leucovorin. TS completed two cycles of these without problem. However, after the third cycle, he started to feel the side effects. He had rashes and dry itchy skin. He became tired, had muscle pains and problems with the taste buds.

By the fourth cycle (i.e., in early July 2013) the muscle pains became worse and he was not able to walk. The doctor advised to take a longer break before going for the next cycle. TS decide to stop the drugs.

On 1 August 2013, TS had shortness of breath during the early morning and was rushed to the hospital. He was said to have a heart attack. He responded well to the emergency treatment in the ICU.

On 2 August 2013, a chest X-ray indicated left lung pneumonia and TS was treated with antibiotics. CT scan of the thorax suggested lung metastases.

From 4 to 7 August 2013, TS’s condition worsened day by day. He was short of breath and needed oxygen all day. His mental alertness was sharply reduced, drifting in and out of sleep most of the time. He had no appetite and felt weak and drowsy. Three doctors attended to him. Two doctors suggested TS undergo chemotherapy but another specialist whispered to TS’s wife, “If he is my relative, I won’t put him through the torture.” Since the family had bad experience with the Xeloda, they decided to give up chemotherapy.

On 8 to 9 August 2013, TS was still on antibiotics and these were the most critical 2 days. His breathing became very difficult and he was not able to eat. His condition deteriorated drastically and the family were expecting the worse. The pastor came to give the last rites. According to the wife, “He was almost gone”.

From 10 to 12 August 2013, by the grace of God, TS’s condition improved and he was discharged from the hospital since there was not the doctor could do after declining chemotherapy. TS was brought home in an ambulance to “rest” .

At home, TS was under the care of Hospice. The Hospice doctor was told that the family wanted to try herbal therapy. The doctor was understanding enough and said, “It is your choice. You can try but I don’t think it will work.”

20 September 2013. TS his wife and daughter came to CA Care, Penang.

Listen and watch the videos below carefully.

On 29 April 2014, TS wrote:
1. My skin peeled off months ago and new skin have grown at least 6 months ago.
2. I am now experiencing pain when I stand up. When walking my legs feel heavy.
3. I feel numb from stomach area downwards.
4. The Hospice doctor told me my nerves are damaged as a side effect from previous oral chemo Xeloda.

I will plan to visit you asap. God bless.

On 1 May 2014, TS wrote again:

I am now into the 8th month of taking your herbs and capsules. Eat ok, sleep ok, bowel movement now 2-3 times a day. When I came back from the hospital last August my weight was 45kg. Now it is almost 49kg. So there is improvement except for the numbness and pain in my soles when I walk.Comments:

Before undergoing any treatment, patients should always ask yourself or your doctors!

1. What are the side effects of the Xeloda?

The most common side effects are:

diarrhea,

nausea,

vomiting,

sores in the mouth and throat (stomatitis),

stomach area pain (abdominal pain),

upset stomach,

constipation,

loss of appetite,

and too much water loss from the body (dehydration).

Other common side effects are:

hand-and-foot syndrome (palms of the hands or soles of the feet tingle, become numb, painful, swollen or red);

rash;

dry, itchy or discolored skin;

nail problems;

hair loss;

tiredness;

weakness;

dizziness;

headache;

fever;

pain (including chest, back, joint and muscle pain);

trouble sleeping;

and taste problems.

Patients could have more side effects related to their heart. The cardiotoxicity observed with Xeloda includes:

myocardial infarction/ischemia,

angina,

dysrhythmias,

cardiac arrest,

cardiac failure,

sudden death,

electrocardiographic changes,

and cardiomyopathy.

With the above list of side effects, nobody can tell you what you may end up with if you swallow Xeloda. It’s a matter of your luck – you strike gold or misfortune. So that much about the so-called scientifically proven medicine.

Ask these questions.

1. In August, TS had a “heart attack” after completing 3 cycles of Xeloda a month before that. What triggered that “heart attack”? Cardiotoxicity mentioned above? Was TS warned about this before taking the drug? Or does everyone assume Xeloda is perfectly safe since the doctors prescribe it? This heart episode almost killed TS.

2. When you are told you have cancer, we understand that you are desperate. You don’t know what else to do. You need help – but don’t you think it is wise not to add oil immediately to the burning fire? Don’t you want to hold on for a while so that you can read a bit more rather than blindly follow advice – to be seen to do something immediately?

3. One amusing account is what the “open-minded, understanding” Hospice doctor said. He did not object to herbal therapy, but he weight in and said, “It is your choice. I don’t think it will work, but you can try.” A fair statement. From the view of medical science, herbs are just hocus pocus, unproven snake oil, bla, bla.

But looking at it realistically, for this case and many other cases documented in this website, did TS ever get worse by taking the herbs and NOT doing chemo? If herbs can do what the chemo cannot do, why go for chemo then?

Watch the videos again.

Can you learn something from this case? Or are you still wanting to stick to your biased view that herbs are not effective and unproven? Do you want to still say, “I don’t think it will work”?

A lady school teacher came to see us in early 2012. Her husband is a medical doctor (later, I got to know that her daughter is also a medical doctor). She did not come with any medical report – she just wanted to tell me her story and based on that prescribe her herbs.

She had colon cancer that had spread to her liver. She had completed her chemo and had also undergone a RFA treatment (radiofrequency ablation). In spite of that, her CEA was rising.

The first question I asked her, “What do you want me to do? What do you expect to get when you come and see me?” Her answer, “I want to find a cure.” To that I told her, “No, I am sorry I don’t have anything to cure anybody. My herbs are not magic.”

Then I asked her to read my two books, Cancer – Why They Live and What You Need to Know About Chemos … She would not even look at the books! But she insisted on wanting to try my herbs. My answer was, “No. For now, I would not prescribe you any herbs. Go home and pray to your god (s) after you have gone through my websites – www.cacare.com and www.CancerCareMalaysia.com ”

Were we being cruel to send her home without giving her the herbs? Sometimes we need to be “apparently” cruel to be kind and honest. While we fully understand that patients who come to us are helpless, desperate and lost – it is extremely unfair and wrong for us to make them believe that we can offer them a cure for their cancers. Our experience over the past 18 years dealing with cancer patients tells us this fact clearly – No one on earth can cure cancer! You just have to learn to live with your cancer and heal yourself. Saying that the treatment gives you a response does not mean a cure. To achieve a tumour shrinkage after treatment is equally meaningless. Shrinkage generally does not translate into a cure. And saying that if you remain alive for 5 years means your cancer is cured is scientifically baseless.

These are the “truths” that you may have missed out or you have not been told. Read the medical literature, no one ever talks about cure for cancer. If they do, they generally mean being alive for 5 years. That is not cure! It is only a remission. We have seen cancer recurring even long after that. My aunty had a recurrence after 13 years. Her cancer spread to her lungs and she died.

So when we sent this lady teacher home to “learn” more we were just being truthful – we cannot cure any cancer. Unfortunately she did not want to learn. She portrayed as a well-informed patient who knew all the medical terms — “after all I am the wife /also mother, of medical doctors.”

Patients who come to us with this kind of “shopping-for-magic-bullet” mentality, are sure to be very disappointed with us. We would send them home without any herbs and ask them to think over.

We understand most patients who come to us are generally medically given up – they have gone though all possible medical treatments and failed. They have nowhere else to turn to for help. I used to jokingly tell patients, “Yes, we are the last one stop.” Given that situation what do patients expect us to do? Cure their cancers? And we, at CA Care, promising them a cure? Don’t be misled – we cannot cure your cancer. We also do not cure your medical results. At CA Care we want to heal you as a person. Healing is different from cure. Healing happens at all levels – physical, mental and spiritual.

Fast forward, April 2014 – about 2 years later. This same lady teacher came to see us again. I could not recongise her. She was dark (due to too much chemo?). I asked for her medical reports. Again – like before – she did not bring any. And she started to rattle her story below.

P: I was diagnosed with colon cancer in September 2010. I had an operation followed by 8 cycles of chemotherapy. I was okay for about 6 months. After that the tumour marker (CEA) started to go up. The cancer had gone to the liver. I did one time RFA (radiofrequency ablation). After one month, it seemed to be okay but my CEA did not go down. It was still climbing.

I did a PET scan and the result showed 2 tiny lymph nodes (collar bone) was infected, but the liver was okay.

I was started on chemo again – another 8 cycles. The CEA went down. It seemed to be okay. While on chemo, I was also given Avastin. After the chemo was completed, I was still on Avastin as maintenance.

A bit less than 6 months later, I did a PET scan. The doctor said everything was okay. But after the PET scan, the CEA started to go up again.

About a month later, I did a CT scan. There were tiny nodules in my lungs.

The oncologist started me on chemo again. This was the third round and I had 12 cycles. I was also given Erbitux.

After 12 cycles of chemo my CEA went down to 1.7 (normal 5). I continued to receive Erbitux as maintenance.

A scan later showed the nodules in the lung were still there but there were no other additional metastasis.

In October 2013, my CEA started to go up again. It was like 1.9.

My oncologist sent me to see a surgeon, to see if the infected lymph nodes could be removed. But the surgeon asked me to do a PET scan first before considering surgery. I did a PET scan. The result showed everything was clear except for one nodule in my right lung. This could be an early metastasis. The surgeon was unable to proceed with the surgery because the nodule was too small. So nothing was done.

Today my CEA started to go up again. And all this while I was still on Erbitux.

Just before the Chinese New Year (January 2014) the oncologist started me on 5-FU (chemo again). My CEA was going up and Erbitux was not effective anymore. That was why the doctor added the 5-FU. I received this every week.

Even with the added 5-FU my CEA had gone up to 5 (from 1.7 before October 2013).

I have been going for the chemo but for a few times now, I started to feel restless 5 or 10 minutes after receiving the drug. I felt restless and did not know where to put my legs, where to put my hands. I could not concentrate. When I talk to you, my eyes cannot focus on you. I am just restless and don’t know what to do. I don’t know whether this is the effects of the drug or it is psychological effect.

Two weeks ago, when they put the drug in, I felt very difficult. They called the doctor in. The doctor wanted to give me steroid (prednisone). But the week before I have asked the oncologist to take off the prednisone because it made me very drowsy. So when they wanted to give this again, I said no!

Last week I went to see my oncologist again. He stopped the Erbitux and said I was already too long on this. So he just gave me only 5-Fu. But I still felt restless even with only 5-FU.

In total I am on chemotherapy for three and half years. (Note: 3 rounds of chemo with a total of 28 cycles besides the weekly 5-FU, maintenance Avastin and Erbitux).

Chris: To be honest, I am surprised that you are still alive today. I really don’t know what I can do to help you. What do you expect me to do in this situation? Because I don’t believe that by taking the herbs your CEA is going to come down, honestly. Now it is just at 5.

Patient: But I am scared that it will go up.

C: Why do you worry wanting to get the CEA down – CEA is not going to kill you.

P: But every time the CEA went up, I went for a scan and they found something in there.

C: That is normal. We all know that. Nobody can cure any cancer. That’s my experience. What is more, even when you get cancer, they tell you to eat anything you like.

P: But I did “pantang” (abstain from certain food).

C: But the way you “pantang” is not the way we teach you to “pantang” at CA Care. It is useless if you don’t do it right. Follow what I tell you fully or don’t. No half measure. Again let me tell you. If you come and see me hoping that your CEA can come down, no, I don’t think that is the correct logic. Honestly, I don’t think it will come down. For three and a half years the doctors could not get it down, and you expect me to do it!

P: It will not come down but I hope it will not go up.

C: I don’t know. You need to know that cancer cells are not the same, they are different. After round and round of chemo, some cancer cells are killed, but some can still remain alive or are not affected by the chemo drugs. Because of that some patients suffer from “more aggressive” cancer after chemo. Researchers have shown that chemo makes cancer more aggressive. That is why chemo does not work.

This is the attitude of patients. When all else have failed they come to us and expect me to do magic. How could I do it? My answer to you is, I am not going to be able to do it – as simple as that.

Other people may say, “Yes take this and take that, your CEA will go down, etc., and etc.” But I am not sure if this is going to be true or not. Why don’t you come back to see us only after you have decided you don’t want to do anymore chemo?

P: I thought of stopping the chemo.

C: It is not a matter of thinking you want to stop chemo. You have to decide – do you still want to continue with your chemo. If you want to continue, go ahead with the medical treatment. You have to be clear about this. I suggest that you go home and continue with your chemo.

Come and see me only after you have decided to give up chemo totally. When you reach that point, and you don’t want to do chemo anymore, and you have nowhere to go, then come and see me. Then we will try the herbs.

For now, don’t take the herbs yet. Go back and when you tell yourself. “I don’t want any more chemo and I have nowhere else to go,” then come and see Chris Teo. Then I’ll give you the herbs.

P: Now, I want to take a break from chemo and I want to take the herbs.

C: Take the herbs for how long?

P: Your wife suggested to try the herbs for one month.

C: You can take the herbs for one month, but I am going to tell you it is not going to give you any significant effects. No way. You have been on medical treatment for three and a half years and it never worked and you can’t expect to take the herbs for a month and it is going to work!

P: Not to go down but to see if it can control it or what.

C: Let me tell you again. When doctors have failed to help you for three and a half years, how can you expect my herbs to help you in a month. No way.

P: But Dr. Teo, I have a friend in Kuala Lumpur. He has lung cancer. The doctor said he only has 3 months to live. He did not go for medical treatment and he took your herbs instead. He is still alive today. It has been one year already.

C: Of course, patients who have not gone for chemo do better with our herbs!

I am obliged to prescribe this patient some herbs. She came back to collect the herbs the next day. She asked my wife:

a) What are the side effects of the herbs?

b) What are these herbs?

c) Some herbs could be dangerous and affect the kidney, etc.

My wife replied: No one has died because of our herbs. And many have been taking these for years. If you are afraid of the side effects or think they are dangerous, please don’t take them!

Comments: For those who have cancer and who know how to read, I strongly suggest that you read my recent book, Cancer – What Now?

In this book I have discussed many topics that are important to you and your survival. Going for whatever treatment for your cancer is about you and your choice. Your life is in your hands. When you get cancer, it is also about you. YOU, the person. It is not just about the tumour or the rising CEA, etc., etc.

I have written many articles trying to let you all know that shrinkage of tumour and decreasing of CEA are often meaningless. It makes you feel good for a few months and the cancer comes back again. Is this not what happened to the lady teacher above? PET scan said okay, all clear but soon something pop up again somewhere! More chemo again. When do you stop chemo?

In Chapter 3 of the book I talked about the types of patients who come to see us and their attitudes – wanting to find a magic cure when there is NONE. Of course, you can go for chemo, surgery, take this supplements and that supplements – beware of the empty promise! In Chapter 6, I wrote about the virtue of doing nothing!

I am aware that my way of dealing with cancer is rather non-conventional and against the commonly accepted norms. If you are following my writing in the websites, you will know that what we do in CA Care do help many patients. It is just whether you want to believe or not!

Look out for another story after this one. This is about a man with colon cancer who was at the point of death in the hospital and was asked to do chemo! His wife preferred to do nothing and brought him home in an ambulance! Like the Chinese say, if you have to die, die at home! This man remained alive at the point of time when I am writing this article.